Writing or drawing tablet.



'Nn. 7|6,629. Patented Dec. 23, I902.

' F. E. DODGE.

VWRI'ITING 0R DRAWJNG TABLET.

(Application filed Mar. 25, 1902:)

(lln Model.)

FREDERICK ELLSWORTH DODGE, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

WRITING OR DRAWING TABLET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,629, dated December23, 1902.

Application filed March 25,1902. Serial No- 99,965. (No model.)

To (l/H/ whom it 'Hl/(Y/Z/ concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK ELLsWoRTH DODGE, dentist, a citizen of theUnited States of America, residing at VII, 40 Burggasse,

Vienna, Empire of AustriaIIungary, have invented \Vriting or DrawingTablets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to writing or drawing tablets; and its object isto provide a tablet or slate of any desired material which will greatlyassist learners of the art of writing and drawing.

The invention consists in characters to be traced in the form of groovesvarying in depth where angles exist in the construction of suchcharacters, so that particularly at the angles the proper guiding of thetracing medium is facilitated. The grooves may be cut, engraved, orpressed, according to the material chosen. They are of sufficient depthand breadth to hold a pencil or other point, and by means of thevariation in the depth of the grooves at the crossing or at the junctureof grooves the pencil or point is guided into the proper groove anddeterred from entering the wrong one. This is accomplished by making thegroove slightly shallower before the crossing or juncture and slightlydeeper at and after the crossing or juncture. The pencil consequentlyfalls into the right groove and continuesin it.

By means of this invention assistance is given both to the eye of thelearner and to the hand at the same time, thus rendering easier thelearning of the art of Writing and drawmg.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a part of a tabletor slate with an engraved letter l, and Fig. 2 is the same View of a WV.Fig. 3 is a section on the line AA of Fig. 1, and. Fig. et a section onthe line B B of Fig. 2.

In carrying the invention into efiect a tablet is provided, of slate,paper, or any other suitable material, with or Without any suitablecoverings, such as glass, parchment, or the like, and on the surface ofthe tablet the grooves representing the lines of the letters, figures,or drawings are either cut in, engraved, stamped, or impressed,according to the material from which the tablet is constructed, thedepth and width of the grooves being adapted according to the form ofthe point of the writing or drawing pencil or pen, so that the lattermay be inserted sufficiently deep into the grooves and may be guided bythe walls thereof. At the crossings or junctures of the letters orfigures the grooves are shallower before the crossing or juncture anddeeper after the crossing or juncture. The groove of the letter I inFigs. 1 and 3 is at a and b slightly shallower than at c and d. Thegrooves of the letter W in Figs. 2 and 4 are at e, f, and g slightlyshallower than at h, 't', and In this manner the right guidance of thepoint of the pencil or pen is rendered easy, while the pencil or pen ispre vented from entering the Wrong groove. A deviation from the correctline would only occur from false or incorrect guidance and never byaccident.

Grooves of variable depth are also applicable to the teachingofelementary drawing.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

A body of suitable material provided with characters to be traced in theform of grooves having appreciable width and varying in depth whereangles exist in the construction of said characters, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this27th day of February, 1902.

FREDERICK ELLSWOR'III DODGE.

Witnesses:

O. D. HURST, ALVESTO S. HOGUE.

